Polishing device and method



April 26, 1960, M. E. JONES 2,933,749

POLISHING DEVICE AND METHOD Filed Dec. 16, 1957 I N V EN TOR.

FIG. 4 M0 rice E. Jones BY W 7( A f forney POLISHING nEvrcE AND METHOD Maurice E. Jones, Griflin, Gal 1 Application December 16, 1957, Serial No. 702,966

8 Claims. (Cl. 15-97) This invention relates to polishing devices and methods and more particularly to a device for simultaneously nited States i atent O polishing a plurality of spheres such as pool balls for example.

Pool and billiard balls frequently become soiled and worn. This condition not only renders the balls less attractive from the standpoint of appearance but also tends to interfere with the functioning of the balls as elements .of a game.

It has been customary heretofore to clean and polish ;pool and billiard balls by laborious and time-consuming manual methods. Ordinarily only a single ball is polished and cleaned at a time using presently known Qclevices and methods. p

A principal object of my invention is to provide an [improved machine and method for simultaneously clean- ,ing and polishing a plurality of spheres.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improved ball polishingmachine and method which is effective thoroughly and quickly to polish an entire set of pool or billiard balls in a single operation.

Still another object of my invention is to reduce the cost of operation of commercial pool and billiard rooms. A further object of my invention is the improvement in the service rendered to patrons of commercial pool and billiard rooms.

balls comprises a ball holder in the form' of a round stationary felt-lined tray having a flat bottom and a bumper mounted on the inside of the tray wall together with a polishing element in the form of a rotatable disc mounted in spaced parallel relation to the bottom of the ball holder. A polishing bonnet is mounted on the disc and engages and polishes all the balls simultaneously, the balls being rolled in random fashion by the bonnet so as to expose all parts of their surfaces to the polishing action. According to'a feature of the invention the polishing element comprising the disc and bonnet is supported by a pivotally mounted bracket, the pivotal mounting being of eccentric construction to afford adinstability of the polishing element relative to the ball' holder whereby the' machine may be adapted forpolishfing balls of at least two different sizes.

showing the pivotal mounting whereby the support.

bracket is mounted on the base; and in which Fig. 4 is a detailed fragmentary view partially in section of the edge of the ball holder and showing a bumper mounted therein.

With reference to Fig. 1 the numeral 1 designates a p .40 The invention in one form as used for polishingpool Patented Apr. 26, 1960 although it will befun'derstood that the holder 1 is con- 'struc't ed of such size and shape as to accommodate an entire set of balls, such as pool balls, for example. As is best shown in a cut-away portion of Fig. 2 the holder 1 is provided with a lining designated by the numeral 3. Lining element 3 is preferably of a felt or felt-like material. For engaging the balls and thereby to facilitate random rolling movement thereof, a rubber bumper 4 is mounted on the inside of the wall of holder 3. As viewed in Fig. 1 a base element 5 is integrally formed with or secured in suitable fashion to the left-hand side of the holder l. As .is best shown in Fig. 2 the lower extremities of the base 5 are flared outwardly as designated at 6 and 7 and a pair of rubber feet 8 and 9 are respectively mounted on the outwardly flared elements 6 and 7. As is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 a pair of rubber feet 10 and 11 are aflixed to the bottom of the holder 1.

Polishing of the spheres 2 is effected by the polishing element 12 which preferably constitutes a disc which is circular in shape and on which is mounted a fur bonnet. Preferably the fur bonnet is constructed in known manner with a gathering string which is either manually tightened or which, if desired, could be constructed of elastic material. The bonnet envelops the disc and the gathering string or elastic material is disposed along the side ofthe disc opposite from the portion thereof which engages the balls to be polished. The polishing element 12 is rotatably mounted on a shaft: 13 of an electric motor 14. Motor 14 is affixed by suitable means such as .bolts'15 to a support bracket 16 pivotally mounted at pin 17 to the base element 5. To load and unload the holder 1, the bracket 16, motor 14 and polishing element 12 are swung in a counter-clockwise direction about pivot 17. In this" manner the holder 1 is rendered readily accessible for loading and unloading.

A suitable switching arrangement and power supply are. provided for the motive means in the form of motor 14. Thus with the balls 2 in place within holder]!- and with power applied to rriotor 14 the polishing element 12 is rotated in a predetermined direction. Such rotating effects polishing of the balls. Rotation of polishing element 12 in addition tends to impart bodily movement to the balls 2 within the holder 1. In this connection it will be. understood that the felt liner 3 and the bumper 4 of holder 1 are of relatively high friction and therefore prevent undue sliding of the balls 2. Thus the frictional relation between the polishing element 12, the balls 2, liner 3 and bumper 4 causes the balls to roll rather than to slide. As the balls move bodily at random different parts of their surfaces are exposed to the polishing action so that Within a short period of time the balls 2 are thoroughly and completely polished over their entire surface area.

In Fig. 1. the fragmentary dotted line 2A represents balls of a smaller size than the balls designated by the numeral 2. According to a feature of the invention a machine constructed according to my invention is adaptable for use with balls of different sizes and for this purpose the polishing element 12 is caused to occupy two different positions, i.e., the position shown in Fig. l and in addition, a position lower than that depicted in Fig. 1 which would enable the lower polishing surface of the polishing element 12 to engage the'surfaces of smaller balls such as 2A in Fig. 1.

tric construction. As is best shown in Fig. 2, the pin 17 is provided with an enlarged outer portion 18 which extends to the right and a smaller axially extending portion 19 which extends to theleft. The outer extremities of the pin 17 designated by the numerals 18 and 19'are mounted coaxially. The center portion of the pin. 17 which is designated by the numeral 20 as shown inFig. 2 is offset somewhat below the common center line of the end portions 18 and 19. Lock-ing pin 21 is mounted to end 19 of pin 17. The pivot 17 is rotated by means of a manual means 22 which is mounted to extension 19 of the pin 17. The radially extending locking pin 21 is arranged when in one position to engage an upper pin holding tab designated by the numeral 23 and which is provided with 'a vertically disposed slot 23A for receiving the pin 21 and for'holding the pin in its uppermost position. The inherent resiliency of the pin 21 allows the pin to move into the slot 23A. Pin engaging and holding tab 23 is formed integrally with the bracket 16.

For holding the pin 21 in its lowermost position, a lower pin engaging tab 24 is integrally formed with a donwnwardly extending portion 25 of the support bracket 16. Thus with the locking pin 21 rotated to its lowermost position the body thereof engages the vertically disposed slot 24A in tab 24 which holds the pin 21 in its lowermost position. Obviously, when the handle is rotated, the pivot 17 is rotated and the eccentric arrangement thereof causes the bracket 16 to move in a vertical direction relative to the base 5, the parts in Figs. land 2 being shown with the bracket 16 and associated parts such as the motor 14 and the polishing 'dis'c 12 in their uppermost position. Obviously, if handle 22 is rotated through 180 so as to move locking pin 21 to its lowermost position, the bracket 16 and associated parts aremoved downwardly relative to base and holder '1 thereby to accommodate smaller balls such as are designated in Fig. 1 by the numeral 2A.

According to a feature of'the invention the vertical adjustment of the polishing element 12, motive means 14 and bracket '16 relative to base 5 and holder 1, is effected without destroying the normal parallel relation between the sphere supporting plane 1A of the sphere holder lfand the polishing plane 12A of the polishing element '12. In this connection and as best shown "in 3 an abutment surface 25is formed atop the base Sand a stop surface 26 is formed on the inner portion of the support bracket 16. As is shown in Fig. 3'the abutment surfaceZS and the stop surface 26 are vertically disposed, i.e., they aredisposed in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the polishing plane of the polishing element 12 and to the sphere supporting plane of the holder 1. For this reason the parallel'relationship between the polishing plane 12A and the sphere supporting plane 1A of holder'l is maintained for both positions of the polishing element 12 relative to holder 1.

While I have shown and described a particular embodiment of theinvention, I do not wish to be limited thereto, and intend in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

, 'What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1

1. A sphere polishing device comprising a sphere holder'having a sphere supporting plane, a polishing'element having a polishing "plane normally disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to said supporting =ment surface disposed in a predetermined 'relation'to said sphere supporting plane, and a'support bracket carrying said element and'pivotally mounted on said baseand having a stop surface arranged normally. to engage'said between said supporting plane surface and said polishing surface, the pivotal mounting of said bracket being snugly journalled in said bracket and in said base and being adjustable to determine the normal spacing between said holder and said polishing element between two positions without alter-ing substantially the parallel relation between said supporting and polishing planes. 7

2. A sphere polishing device comprising a sphere holder having a "sphere supporting plane, a polishing element having a polishing plane normally disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to said supporting plane of said sphere holder, said holder and said element being relatively movable in a direction parallel to said polishing and supporting planes, a support base secured to said holder and having an abutment surface disposed in a predetermined substantially perpendicular relation to said sphere supporting plane, and a support bracket carrying said element a'ndfpivot'ally mounted on said base and having a stop surface arr'anged'normally to engage saidabutment surface to establish the normal parallel relation between said supporting plane and said polishing pla'ne'fthe pivotal "mounting of said bracket being snugly 'journa'lle'd in said bracket and in said base and being 'adjust'abl'e to determine the normal spacing between said holder and said polishing element without altering substantially the parallel relation between said supporting andpolishih-gplanes. I u 3 ispliere polishing device comprising a sphere holder having a sphere supporting plane, a polishing element having a polishing plane normally disposed in spaced substantiallyparallel relation to said supporting planeoffsaidsphe're holder, said holder and said element being relatively 'ihovable ;in a direction parallel to said polishing and supportingiplanes,asuppolt base atfixed to saidholder'and having an abutment surface disposed in "a predetei'ininedrelation to said sphere supporting plane, a'siip'p'o'rt bracket'r'igidly affixed to'and carrying said 'element and p'i'v'otally'mounted on said base and having a stop'surface arrangednormally to'engage said abutment sii'rffaceftoe'stablish the normal parallel relation between said 'siipporting'planeand said polishing 'plane, the pivotal mountingo'f 'saidbracketbeing snugly journalled in said bracket and in said base and being of eccentric constructit in andflrian'ueil m'eans operably connected with said pivotal mounting and movable between predetermined positions fordeter'mining the'spacing between said polishing and supporting plane's. I h f4 A sphere polishing device comprising a sphere holder'having a sphere supporting plane, a polishing element having a 'polishing'plane normally disposed in spaced 'substantially parallel relation to said'supporting "plane of said sphere holder, said holder and said element "being relatively movable in a direction parallel to said polishing and supportingplanes, a support base arranged "in'a fixed'relation to said holder and having an abutment surface disposed in a predetermined substantially perpendicular relation to said sphere supporting plane, a "support bracket rigidly afiixcd to and carrying said elem'enta'nd pivotally mounted'on'said base and having'a stop surface arranged normally'to engage said abutment :snrrae to establish theinormal'parallel relation between said supporting plane and said polishing plane, the pivotal ,inounting'ofsaidbracket being s'n'ugly journalled in'said bracket andin 'said base and being of eccentric constructidnjand manualniansoperably"related with said'pivotal flnountinga'nd movable between predetermined positions fondete'rinining the "spacing between said polishing and 's'iippo'rfring planes without substantially altering the paral- "lel relation i thefebetween.

5. In combination, abase liavin'gan'abutment surface, 'an'd"abracketpivotallymounted'on said'base and having "a stop surface arranged normally to engage said abut- "r'ne'nt'sur'fa'c'e to establisha'predetermined angular relation between said base :and said bracket; the-pivotal abutment surface tbestabli'shthenormalparallel'relation ioiintihg'being snugly journalled in said bracket and in said base and being of an eccentric construction whereby rotation thereof from one position to another imparts movement to said bracket relative to said base, said abutment and said stop surfaces being disposed with respect to each other so as to maintain said bracket and said base in a predetermined angular relation for each position of said pivotal mounting irrespective of relative movement of said base and bracket due to rotation of said pivotal mounting.

6. A device for simultaneously polishing a plurality of spheres comprising a sphere holder having a bottom and a side wall and arranged to hold a plurality of spheres in a common plane, said spheres being free to roll about in said common plane within limits defined by said side wall, a polishing element symmetrically mounted relative to said sphere holder and having a polishing plane disposed in substantially parallel relation to said common plane, said polishing element and said sphere holder being relatively rotatable and said polishing element being engageable with the spheres to efiect a polishing of the surfaces thereof and to impart random bodily movement to the spheres relative to said holder and within said oommon plane, a base secured to said holder and having an abutment surface, and a bracket rigidly affixed to and carrying said element and pivotally mounted on said base and having a stop surface arranged normally to engage said abutment surface to establish a predetermined angular relation between said base and said bracket, the pivotal mounting being snugly journalled in said bracket and in said base andbeing of an eccentric construction whereby rotation thereof; from one position to another imparts movement to said bracket relative to said base, said abutment and said stop surfaces being disposed with respect to each other so as to maintain said bracket and said base in a predetermined angular relation for each position of said pivotal mounting irrespective of relative movement of said base and bracket due to rotation of said pivotal mounting.

7. A sphere polishing device comprising a sphere holder having a sphere supporting plane and a side wall for holding the spheres on said supporting plane, a bumper of yieldable high friction material mounted on said side wall, a polishing element having a polishing plane normally disposed in spacedsubstantially parallel relation to said supporting plane of said sphere holder, said holder and said element being relatively movable in a direction parallel to said polishing and supporting planes, relative motion between said holder and said polishing element being effective to polish said spheres and in conjunction with bodily engagement between said spheres and said bumper to impart random motion thereto relative to said holder so as to expose all portions of the surfaces of said spheres to polishing action, a support base arranged in fixed relation to said holder, a support bracket pivotally mounted onsaid base and arranged to support said polishing element whereby swinging movement of said polishing element about the pivotal mounting for said bracket and relative to said holder is accommodated.

8. A sphere polishing device comprising a sphere holder having a sphere supporting plane and a side wall, the spheres being free to roll about on said common plane within the limits defined by said wall, a felt lining for said plane and wall, a polishing element having a polishing plane normally disposed in spaced substantially parallel relation to said supporting plane, said holder and said polishing element being relatively movable in a direction parallel to said polishing and supporting planes, a support base arranged in fixed relation to said holder and having an abutment surface disposed in a predetermined relation to said sphere. supporting plane, a support bracket carrying said element and pivotally mounted on said base and having a stop surface arranged normally to engage said abutment surface to establish a normal parallel relation between said supporting plane surface and said polishing surface, the pivotal mounting of said bracket being snugly journalled in said bracket and in said base and being eccentric and adjustable to determine the normal spacing between said holder and said polishing element without altering substantially the parallel relation between said supporting and polishing planes, and a bumper of yieldable high friction material mounted on the inside of said Wall and engageable by the spheres for aiding in imparting random movement thereto so as to expose all portions of the surfaces of the spheres to polishing action.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,587,068 Dinehart June 1, 1926 1,768,229 Blakemore June 24, 1930 1,792,211 Brewer Feb. 10, 1931 1,837,232 Reinhardt Dec. 22, 1931 1,889,809 Nielsen Dec. 6, 1932 2,031,633 Brillhart Feb. 25, 1936 2,650,385 De Michel Sept. 1, 1953 2,724,144 Lohrman Nov. 22, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 381,301 Great Britain Oct. 6, 1932 

